Berlin Bans Love Parade Festival

The Berlin ministry of the interior has banned this year's Love Parade, scheduled for July 14, claiming that the techno music event, which attracts roughly 1 million visitors each year, clashes with a

The Berlin ministry of the interior has banned this year's Love Parade, scheduled for July 14, claiming that the techno music event, which attracts roughly 1 million visitors each year, clashes with a demonstration by Love Parade opponents who had registered their event first.

A spokesman for Eckart Werthebach, senator for the interior, said that the authorities had no choice, as the anti-Love Parade demonstrators had already applied for use of the same street (17.Juni), near Berlin's Tier Garten.

Accordingly, the only date on which the Love Parade can be held is a Saturday before July 14, as there are prior bookings for other events. In a statement, organizers stated that postponement or a change of venue was out of the question. Representatives in Hannover, Dusseldorf, and Frankfurt/Main, have expressed interest in hosting this year's event.

In related news, Newcastle-upon-Tyne is confirmed as host for the 2001 U.K. Love Parade, to be held July 21. BBC Radio 1 is organizing the free event, which is modeled on the Berlin version. The event is expected to concentrate at the city's Town Moor, Hoppings site, although a spokesman notes, "there are still a lot of details to be finalized." Last year's event in Leeds attracted more than 250,000 participants..